Newman stays at Swans

Newman stays at Swans - The West Australian

Murray Newman will remain at Swan Districts this season after the WA Football Commission refused West Coast's request to move the troubled teenager to their subsidiary East Perth.

The Eagles appealed against the initial WAFL decision to keep Newman at his original club, claiming his welfare would benefit from closer supervision at the Royals.

Newman, 19, is facing a grievous bodily harm charge over a nightclub fight last year while his pre-season fitness was so poor that Eagles coach John Worsfold beat him in a 2km time trial. But WAFL operations manager Cam Knapton has informed West Coast that transferring Newman, a year before the full alignment that will see all local AFL-listed players housed at either East Perth or Peel, would not be in the best interests of the WAFL competition.

Newman played four AFL matches in his debut season after being drafted at No.23 in 2011.